Two Southern Connecticut State University students are helping bring statewide attention to a growing issue on college campuses: food insecurity.
In a recent episode of “Where We Live” on Connecticut Public Radio, senior Nelly Birmingham and graduate student Rakeria Thomas spoke candidly about their personal experiences with food insecurity and how Southern’s food pantry became a vital source of support.
Birmingham, a social work major, described the emotional and cultural challenges she faced in seeking help. “As a Latina, asking for help has never been easy,” she said. “But walking into the food pantry changed my life — it made me feel seen and supported.”
Thomas, a young mother and incoming graduate student, discovered the food pantry during her freshman year. “I had to put my pride aside,” she said. “The pantry helped me not only as a student, but as a mom trying to make ends meet.”
The episode also featured insights from statewide leaders working to address systemic hunger in higher education, and underscored how food pantries like Southern’s are evolving to offer more than canned goods — including toiletries, baby supplies, and culturally relevant food options.
Listen to the full segment here: Connecticut Public – “Where We Live.”
